Overview
ISO 22673:2008 - Ships and marine technology - Launching appliances for free-fall lifeboats - defines terms and sets requirements for the design, construction, acceptance, examination, performance, operation and maintenance of launching appliances that use inclined ramps to launch free-fall lifeboats from ships and offshore platforms. The standard provides a practical code aligned with SOLAS/LSA requirements to ensure safe free-fall launching, recovery and controlled launching of lifeboats.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & terminology: Defines maximum working/recovering loads, lightest launching load, winch loads and related vocabulary used for free-fall launching appliances.
- Performance:
- Must enable safe free-fall launching of fully‑loaded and non‑loaded lifeboats by gravity or stored mechanical power (independent of ship’s power).
- Operability against trim up to 10° and list up to 20° (special provisions for certain tankers with heel >20°).
- Simulated launching capability (without water drop) and powered recovery of non‑loaded lifeboat with crew.
- Secondary controlled launching (arms and falls) permitted using ship main or emergency power for specified smaller trim/list limits.
- Stowage & readiness:
- Distance from lifeboat lowest point to water must not exceed the lifeboat’s certified free‑fall height.
- Lifeboat must be ready-to-launch so two crew can prepare and launch within 5 minutes.
- Float‑free designs require automatic release.
- Design & materials:
- Materials must withstand air temperatures −30 °C to +65 °C; immersion equipment (hydrostatic releases, weak links) must operate in seawater −1 °C to −30 °C.
- Major structural members (ramps, arms, sheave racks) minimum thickness 6 mm and safety factor ≥ 4.5 based on maximum working load.
- Loose gears (blocks, shackles, links) designed with safety factor ≥ 6 and not made from fragile cast materials.
- Corrosion resistance, anti‑icing effectiveness and low routine maintenance emphasis.
- Testing, acceptance & maintenance:
- Winch, loose gear and full appliance tests, plus prototype and production acceptance codes.
- Requirements for inspection, marking and maintenance schedules are included.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 22673:2008 is used by:
- Shipbuilders and naval architects specifying lifeboat stowage and ramp arrangements.
- Lifeboat and launching-appliance manufacturers for design and certification.
- Classification societies, flag administrations and approval authorities for acceptance testing.
- Shipowners, ship operators and offshore platform managers for procurement, installation, crew procedures and maintenance planning.
- Marine safety inspectors and surveyors enforcing SOLAS/LSA compliance.
Practical uses include design verification, manufacture acceptance tests, installation checks, crew training scenarios, maintenance planning and regulatory compliance documentation.
Related standards
- IMO LSA Code / SOLAS (safety of life at sea)
- ISO 15516 (launching appliances for davit‑launched lifeboats)
- IEC 60092 (electrical installations in ships)
- MSC circulars (operation and maintenance guidance)
Keywords: ISO 22673:2008, free-fall lifeboats, launching appliances, launching ramp, lifeboat recovery, marine safety, SOLAS compliance, offshore platforms.
